Like Father, Like Daughter
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Star vs the Forces of Evil
Chapter 18: Let's Dance
"And so to help replace all the destroyed sport equipment, we are having A Night Under the Stars Dance/Festival." Principal Skeeves announced over the intercom. "Marco Diaz. Seraph Diaz. Janna Ordiana. I expect the three of you to buy tickets. Lots of tickets."
Marco glared at Janna who just smirked and shrugged.
0000
A few days ago Janna had noted that Seraph was still upset about everything that happened at the wedding. She had decided to cheer up the hybrid.
Janna had known that all of the sports teams wanted to recruit Seraph because of her physical skills, but Seraph wasn't all that interested in joining any team. She'd rather go home and ride Nachos, spar with her dad, or get a visit from her mom.
But she also knew that Seraph loved seeing a good fight. Seraph told her all about all the fights she saw at the Battle Nexus Tournament. So Janna told all the sports teams that there was a way to get Seraph to join them by impressing her.
After school with all the teams gathered at the football field, Janna and Seraph sat on the bleachers.
They had snacks ready when Janna yelled out, "Go!"
The teams charged at each other with makeshift maces and flails made from balls and helmets, and a gladiatorial battle began as each team fought each other for dominance while Seraph and Janna sat watching like Roman Empresses.
None of the teams really hurt each other. They brought all the safety equipment they had. They kinda tired each other out but did end up breaking just about everything.
Seraph was cheered up by it all.
Principal Skeeves found out. His anger was focused on Janna. He was kinda hoping to get Seraph on any of the teams because having a winning team would certainly help the school reputation without him having to do anything.
Still though. Since all the teams went along with it and Janna never openly said they should fight each other just implied it, he couldn't punish her more than a few more detentions.
In any case, it left them with an entire school's worth of damaged sports equipment.
0000
Brittney got up in front of the class, "The Cheer Squad has been spearheading the fundraiser to replace all of the sports equipment. Friday night will be the big event. There will be a dance with a live bad and food stands with food provided by local restaurants. There will be games and actives you can try for a few tickets and prizes. Remember you can buy tickets to get in and use from any of the cheerleaders or at the school store." Brittney glared at Marco.
"What?" Marco yelled.
"Diaz, everyone knows this is a result of your daughter. You have to buy tickets."
"Janna was the one who did everything."
"Just cover me Marco." Janna leaned back in her chair.
"Just do it." Brittney ordered, "We know she's just going to steal your wallet to pay for any ticket we make her buy, so just buy it and cut out the middle man."
"Fine, I'll buy tickets for me and Janna."
"Oh! Me too Dad!" Seraph smiled, "I've never been to a dance."
"Fine three tickets." Marco started to take out his wallet.
"Buy one for me too!" Star waved her hand, "I love dances!"
Marco repressed a groan, "Four."
"Oh, you are buying more than that." Brittney growled.
Marco had faced monsters, demons, things that gave people nightmares, but suddenly he found himself intimidated by a cheerleader.
0000
Marco found himself later that day at home just slumped into a chair. Brittney had gotten him to buy over a dozen tickets. He didn't even have plans to go to the dance in the first place. It just seemed too weird. People were expected to partner up, and he had no idea of who he would dance with.
After all, his most memorable dances involved someone specific.
He glanced over to where Seraph was talking to Star, Janna, and Jackie. Since Marco had those extra tickets, he decided to give them some. They were arranging when to meet and head out to the dance together. He could already tell Seraph would want him to come along, and as much he didn't want to be one of those parents, he knew he couldn't say no to his little girl.
And they did have fun at the Bounce lounge. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
The hair at the back his head prickled, and a red portal formed in the middle of the room. Out came Hekapoo stumbling out with a large brown box.
"Seraph! A little help!"
One of the laser puppies yelped at her feet. To avoid squashing the little pet, Hekapoo shifted her feet at the last moment but that caused her to fall backwards.
Marco jumped up and caught her quickly.
"You okay Mom?" Seraph quickly pulled away the box and placed it on the coffee table.
"I'm good." Hekapoo said as she found herself looking into Marco's eyes.
A blush quickly forming on their cheeks. Both pulled away.
"Huh," Hekapoo began, "the rest of the commission gave me some treats that they wanted to bring you."
"Yay! My uncles sent me treats."
"… Uncles huh?" Hekapoo sighed. She never told Seraph too much about them, but apparently they meet during the wedding mess. She'd taken to calling them Uncles. She could see where Seraph was coming from but… it still made her a bit uneasy.
"I love you sweetie." Hekapoo focused on her daughter, "And I'd love to spend time with you, but I've got things I have to do." She said glancing at Marco.
Everyone in the room saw it. Both of them were awkward, and they all knew the wedding must be responsible for that.
"Mom," Seraph's voice paused the ancient being, "there something I want to ask you."
Hekapoo turned to see Seraph pick up a ticket, "There's going to be this thing at school. A dance and festival with food and stuff. It's going to be fun. Do you want to come along?"
"I —" Hekapoo started, but paused as she looked into her daughter giving her the puppy dog eyes.
She was one of the most powerful beings in the multiverse, but this girl of less than a year old somehow made her feel so weak.
She wanted to say no.
"Yeah, come along," Jackie off all people spoke up placing a hand on Seraph's shoulder, "it will be fun."
Hekapoo blinked. She wouldn't have expected Jackie to do that. It just made it harder to say no now, "I mean… I guess, if no one…" She glanced over at Marco.
"Well,… yeah… It should be fun."
"SO DOES THAT MEAN YOU'LL COME?!" Seraph yelled out startling everyone.
Hekapoo's expression softened and let out a small chuckle, "Sure, I'd love to."
Janna shook her head; Seraph had everyone in the room under her thumb. Her parents couldn't say no to her, and Star, Janna, and Jackie after seeing her cry were trying to just make her happy to make up for it.
She could just ask for anything, and they'd probably do it.
Seraph gave her the details they just hashed out, when to meet and everything. A hesitant Hekapoo agreed, "Okay, I'll see you then."
As Hekapoo stepped back into the portal, she gave one final glance to Marco.
Marco sighed, letting out a breath he didn't even know he had been holding in. His face feeling much more flush then it should have. He smiled though seeing how happy Seraph was.
"Going to the dance~ Going to dance~" Seraph sang to herself as she dance to a tune only she heard.
Angie took this chance to walk in, she smiled at her delighted granddaughter.
"Dance?" Angie quirked at that, and they explained the situations.
"So you're going to a dance with your parents?" Angie chuckled, noting that most teens would hate the idea of their parents being at the same dance as them.
"Hm," Star mused, "do you have anything like a dance dress?"
"I guess I don't." Seraph admitted, she had gotten a lot of clothes from her shopping trip with Star but nothing really dance worthy.
As she thought this over, she paused as she watched her friend looking past her with a peculiar look.
She turned around to find her father looking rather annoyed and her grandmother's eyes sparkling.
"DRESS SHOPPING!"
And that was when Seraph realized she got that excited scream from her grandmother.
Marco couldn't hold back a groan as Angie gave Seraph a great big hug. "Dress shopping. I love shopping, and I always wanted to help him pick out some clothes, but Marco has always been so picky when shopping. And he always get the same thing."
"I like my red hoodies, and I hate picking out what to wear." Marco shot back.
"But you're not like that?"Angie practically pleaded.
"I guess not."
Angie smiled, experiencing one of the true joys of being a grandmother. Shopping and spoiling her granddaughter. "Let's go right now. We can go find you a beautiful dress."
"Yeah —" Seraph was already being pulled out of the door.
Marco blinked as he heard the car screech away, "Ah, okay. It's a school night; get her back to do her homework."
The three girls looked at Marco as if asking if he had really said that.
0000
The day of the dance had come, and Marco was getting ready in his room. He was not a person who had an easy time picking out his clothes. Marco liked to keep it simple, so he didn't really have a lot of fancy dress clothes.
That's why when he was getting ready he knew what to put on, but as he looked at it he hesitated. It was the same outfit he wore on his date with Jackie. He thought it would make things awkward and bring up to make memories for Jackie… and himself.
He had some nice black slacks and fresh dress shirt, but he didn't think it would be enough.
As he was rifling through his closet, there was a gentle knock on the door.
He turned around and was greeted by his daughter in a simple orange dress with a bow on the back.
Marco couldn't help but smile at how beautiful his daughter looked.
"Hey Dad." Seraph smiled right back at him. "When Grandma and I were shopping, I saw something and thought it suited you."
Seraph held out a silk red tie.
Marco smiled, "You gave me a tie."
"Yeah."
Marco whimpered.
"Ah, Dad, are you okay?"
"It's a Dad gift, my first Dad gift."
"So, you like it?"
"I love it." Marco placed an arm around her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Seraph gushed, "Aw, Dad."
Marco patted her on the head right between the horns, a sign of affection Seraph adored and made her feel like a little kid.
Which she kinda was.
Marco wasted no time and put it on. He kept it lose, finding it easier to tie that way.
He stopped to look himself in the mirror, "So, does this work?"
"You look good, but aren't you supposed to wear a jacket?"
"Yeah," Marco looked to the side, "Well, I'm just not feeling the one I have."
An idea struck Seraph, and she rushed into the closet rummaging for something. Finally she pulled out something. "How's this? I think this could work."
0000
Seraph scurried down the flight of stairs, "Dad is just finishing up; he'll be done in a minute."
Seraph smiled to her friends, Star, Janna, Jackie, and Starfan.
Since the whole quest for the rings, Starfan and Seraph had actually become pretty good friends. Starfan was helping Seraph on some of her craft projects, and they often just hang out sharing stories and talking about boy-bands and things.
Starfan had on a purple dress she'd added wings to. Star wore a glittery pink dress. Jackie went with a blue dress, nothing as fancy or eye catching as the one she took on the last dance but nice either way. Janna, well, Jackie and Star had to twist her arm to put on a black dress for the dance. Though mostly it was Seraph's prodding that they should all look nice.
She still kept her beanie.
Janna just wasn't one to get dressed up like this; it pushed her a bit out of her comfort zone.
"Don't you all look nice." Angie walked over with Rafael by her side.
Star had been looking forwards to this. It would just be nice to spend sometimes with friends and have fun.
The skin on the back of Seraph's neck seemed to prickle and a portal formed.
Stepping out of it was Hekapoo. Star noticed something the swagger and confidence she'd always seen in Hekapoo was gone. This Hekapoo seemed hesitant and maybe a little shy.
Star took a moment to look at Hekapoo, her hair was freshly done. She had on a new pair of ruby red heels and was wearing a stylish black dress with a red silk sash around her waist.
"Mom!" Seraph ran up to her and hugged her.
"Hey sweetie," Hekapoo instantly smiled.
Star did envy that about them, how just seeing each other would make them smile. She'd hope that she'd have someone like that in her life.
"Don't you look lovely." Angie walked over with Rafael by her side.
"Uh, yeah. Thanks." Hekapoo said nervously.
Since the wedding thing, she'd had a hard time knowing how to act around Marco, and before that she barely knew how to act around his parents.
The way they smiled, the sheer kindness she saw in their eyes, she didn't know how to deal with it. She'd expect them to ignore her and just think of her as the mother of their granddaughter and nothing more.
The sound of the stair steps creaking under someone's weight stirred her out of her thoughts.
"Hey," Marco said mustering up a smile.
"Hey," Hekapoo greeted back, a smile finding its way to her face. "I like the jacket."
"You match," Star said in barely more than a whisper.
Marco had put on his black leather jacket and with his red tie; he did match with Hekapoo's current color scheme.
Marco reached the bottom of the steps and found himself looking into Hekapoo's eyes. Well, eye. Her bangs kept blocking the other one.
"You know something about this situation is awfully familiar." Janna mused out loud.
"Someone take a picture!" Rafael smiled waving his hand.
"Okay," Starfan took out her phone.
Before Marco could say anything, he found himself being pushed by his father right next to Hekapoo with his mother doing the same to Hekapoo.
"Say cheese!" Starfan told them.
Noticing how close they were, Hekapoo quickly grabbed Seraph pulling her in between them. Seraph smiled happily putting her arms around her parents.
Despite some awkwardness in the moment, they smiled taking their picture together.
Star fidgeted in her dress, "I think we should get going we don't want to be late."
"Right," Marco quickly agreed, "we should get going."
Marco paused as he heard a familiar purring. Nachos rolled up to them nuzzling up to Hekapoo.
"Hey girl." Hekapoo patted the mount.
"It looks like Nachos wants you two to ride her." Seraph told her parents. "It's been a while since she's gotten to give you both a lift."
Nachos gave them puppy dog eyes.
Hekapoo just gave her a sad smile, "Yeah, it's been a while."
Seraph pulled out her own pair of scissors creating a tear, "I can take everyone else to the school. Why don't you two share a ride."
"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea." Angie quickly agreed, "Nachos must miss Hekapoo, and she does get fussy when she doesn't get enough exercise."
"Yeah do that!" Seraph said as she started shoving her friend into the portal.
Soon as they were on the other side of the portal Seraph stepped in, "Okay see you there."
"Ah, I guess, we should get going."
A few moments later they were on the sidewalk as Marco put on his helmet. He quickly handed Hekapoo Seraph's helmet.
"What's with the helmet?"
"It's just in case."
"Come on Marco, you rode on Nachos for years without a helmet."
"Because there nowhere to get one. I know Nachos will do everything she can to prevent an accident, but it's better to be safe than sorry."
"I guess, but I'm immortal and super durable. I don't need one."
"Put it on. You don't want to set a bad example for Seraph."
Hekapoo huffed before trading her tiara for the helmet. Hesitantly, she climbed on Nachos sitting right behind Marco.
"Hang on."
Hekapoo scouted closer and wrapped her arm around Marco's waist, just to make sure she didn't fall off.
Nachos let out a roar as she pulled away from the house and moved swiftly through the road.
Hekapoo found herself squeezing Marco a little tighter, a smile finding its way to her face. She looked up to the full moon, "Hey, do you remember the last dance we went to together?"
Marco felt his face grow warm; he told himself it was because of Hekapoo's own heat.
"Yeah, at… that wedding… the Vampire wedding."
"The Sacred Moon Wedding."
0000
It was during the latter half of his trial, Marco camped out for the night in the outskirts of a forest. He made a small campfire while Nachos rested. Marco quickly hunted some small creatures that seemed to be a mix of raccoons and rabbits. He cooked them up and started sharing his meal with his loyal dragon.
He looked up and saw a beautiful full moon hanging over head. As he finished up his meal, he found himself staring at the moon.
His mind wandering back to his life, to thinking about his family, friends, and to Star. He wondered where they were and how they were doing. He'd often thought about asking Hekapoo to leave a message for him. Just to let Star know he was alive and to contact his family, but after all this time, he felt foolish for having nothing to show for it.
He couldn't make himself contact them until he had something to show them.
As he continued to look at the moon his mind drifted to Hekapoo, it been a while since he caught a clue of Hekapoo or her clones. He found himself missing her.
As if his wish was being granted, a flame roared into the night sky, and Hekapoo walked out of the forest. She quickly was beside them petting the dragon's head.
"Hey," She smiled, "How's the hunt going? Oh, right, you're nowhere near any of my clones."
"Hey Hekapoo, did you just come by to tease me?"
"Well, I do love to tease you and get a reaction from you," Hekapoo said softly letting her finger dance on Marco's abs, "some of those reactions are really something." She pulled back, "But today I'm here for business."
"Need help?"
Hekapoo glared at him, "No, but maybe you want to get one of my clones. Same deals, help me out with a little mission I'll let you blow out one of the my clones."
Marco paused. Sometimes Hekapoo would ask for his help in turn for one of her clones, but it didn't mean it would be easier then tracking one down. Most of these missions would be extremely tough.
"What do you need, H-poo?"
"I need you to be my date."
"Wait, what?"
"Have you noticed any people around here? Like anywhere near here? Villages or towns or anything?"
"Now that you mention it I haven't. I found a few ghost towns but that's about it."
"A little while ago they were filled with people and full of life. We've got vampires."
"Blood suckers?"
"A few days ago a bunch came in and took everyone. I've got a clone keeping track of them. They want to conquer my dimension and are willing to kill everyone who gets in their path or just for lunch."
"And the date?"
"Oh, feeling pent up? Well if it goes well maybe we can —"
"Hekapoo." Marco scolded.
"Fine, down to business. My clone found out they are having a wedding tonight. The vampires are basically two clans with a couple of strays. They're composed of two clans with one of them lead by a very powerful type of vampire called a Vampire Lord. Since a vampire lord is powerful enough on their own, they don't exactly trust him. That's where this marriage comes in."
"A union to solidify their pact?"
"Sort of, it's some sort of magical moon ritual. I don't know the details. I never could follow magical binding love stuff. That's Limerence stuff. Anyway, the scoop is that when two people are bound together in the wedding ritual, they not only bind each other but multiply their power together. If that happens, their leader will become ultra powerful and have a huge army of loyal vampires."
"Yeah that sounds bad."
"Yeah, the wedding is going to happen tonight. But they are letting any vampire willing to join up to attend."
"So you want to pretend to be vampires and sneak in and slay the leader before the ritual can happen."
"Well, I'm going as a vampire; you're going to be my thrall play thing."
"You want me to be your Renfield."
"I have no idea what that means."
"Basically your servant, takes care of your needs, protects you during the day, and just wishes to be turned into a vampire."
"That's about right. So wanna be my date?"
Marco pondered it. It sounded dangerous facing an army of vampires and sneaking in right beneath their noses. But of course, they needed to be stopped. Plus it sounded fun.
"I'd be honored."
"Good. First up," She jumped up and tore opened a portal. "Let's get you cleaned up, we're going to a wedding."
0000
Marco did enjoy getting a bath. A life on the road didn't give him a lot of chances to enjoy such things.
Marco walked into the forge wearing a black bathrobe he'd found. He found Nachos napping by the forges flames.
"Hekapoo! Where are you?"
"Over here." Hekapoo walked into the room wearing a long, form fitting black dress whose skirt dragged on the floor. She was putting on a pair of ruby red earrings.
Marco couldn't help but think she looked stunning.
"You look stunning." Marco also couldn't help but say it out loud.
Hekapoo smiled, "Well, flattery will get you nowhere lover boy. Time to get dressed."
"Yeah, where my clothes."
Marco felt a shiver go down his spine after seeing the way Hekapoo smiled at him.
A moment later he found out why.
His comfy pants were exchanged for a pair of leather pants and his hoodie discarded and replaced by a necklace with a long chain.
"Is this an actual mission or one of your games? Because if you just want to try some new things —"
"Servant! These evil vampires won't bother to look at you twice if they think you're my boy toy. They do have certain rules. They can't eat each other's servants. It's just very rude."
"And what about you? You've got fangs, but I doubt they'd think you're a vampire."
Hekapoo pulled out a necklace with a red gem, "It's a glamor, I put it on and—" Hekapoo slipped on the necklace, "there."
Hekapoo's horns vanished and her hair turned pitch black and her eyes red.
"Come on boy toy. Time to crash a wedding and kill the bride and groom and all the guests."
Hekapoo cut open a tear in space and held out her hand.
Marco reached over for his sword but was stopped by Hekapoo. "Sorry no weapons. Who brings weapons to a wedding. You're going to have to rely on your judo mind tricks."
Marco chuckled, "Okay, Mistress, " He took her arm, "let's go. I really want to get out of these pants."
"Oh! Aren't you eager?"
"They are really tight."
"I know it."
They stepped into the portal.
0000
With a roar Nachos stopped at the front of the school, it nudged them out of their memories.
"I guess we're here." Marco mused as he went to park Nachos.
They hopped off the dragon and made their way to the entrance. Marco paused just long enough to remind Nachos not to wander off.
It was a short walk towards the entrance and a quiet one at that. The wedding had done what battles and life hadn't. It had created a barrier between them. Every time Marco tried to say something when they were alone the words died in this throat.
He hated it. Even if not for himself, he had to make sure he and Hekapoo had a good relationship for Seraph's sake.
Marco mustered up his courage, "I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Sorry for what?"
"This.. all of this. I'm sorry it's so weird between us."
Hekapoo shook her head, "It's not your fault. It's more my fault that I asked for your help dealing with those hydra. If I hadn't done that, we wouldn't have been infected by mind altering bugs." She scratched her head, "Maybe I shouldn't ask for your help so much."
"We make a good team."
"I guess we do, but I still shouldn't ask for your help so much. You're a human. You shouldn't be put on stuff that could kill you so easily."
"Hekapoo, I remember the Sacred Moon Wedding too. You know I can handle myself, and neither you or I alone could have stopped them. I'm proud of what we've done together. I value what we have and don't want to see it go away."
"I don't either."
"Mom! Dad!" Seraph waved from the school entrance.
Both parents smiled softly as they finished their walk.
"What are you doing waiting for us?" Hekapoo greeted her daughter.
"Someone shoved us into a portal without getting our tickets from her dad." Janna turned to look at Seraph.
Sheepishly Seraph grinned, "Yeah…"
Marco opened up his jacket to find a stack of tickets. They reached the entrance where Ms. Skullnick collected the tickets; the teacher paused and looked at Hekapoo. "Your Seraph's mother, right?"
"Yeah?" Hekapoo looked her over.
"You have a very gifted daughter. I don't think I have ever had a student to take to math so easily. You should be very proud of her."
Hekapoo blushed looking to find her daughter beaming, "Uh, thanks."
They started to walk in when Marco was pulled back by Ms. Skullnick, "Mister Diaz."
"Uh, yeah?" Marco asked.
"You on a date with your ex?"
"Uh, what? Me and Hekapoo aren't— I mean— Seraph invited her and—"
"Yeah, save it. Just keep it PG."
Marco blushed, "Right," he walked away to catch up with the others.
Hekapoo asked, "Yeah, why do you have a troll as a teacher?"
"Long story…"
As Ms. Skullnick continued to collect tickets, she failed to notice that one of the students had an extra shadow or that the shadow split off and crept along the floor on its own. The shadow crawled onto a wall, and a pair of glowing eyes formed on its face.
"So this is where Hekapoo is? What is she doing on this backwoods planet?" A sliver of a smile formed on the shadows empty face, "Well I can at least have some fun. Maybe see what's so interesting about that boy."
The shadow slipped away as it prepared to it's plans.
Author's Notes: Hi, so it's a been a while since while since i updated. If you've read some of my other stories you might know that recently my grandmother passed away. It's affected me a little, I haven't really managed to get in the flow of working on my stories. I've tried to push through my writing but little effort. In the end my beta has been helping finish this chapter. I wanted to say, I do feel better and i've started the next chapter. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter soon.
In the meantime I am still working on the audio version. We didn't fill up the roles so if anyone if you are interested in auditioning please send me a PM and I'll send you the link to the details.
Otherwise please leave a review telling me what you guys think.